SH – Chapter 13

It snowed all night.

To leave Jian You with the perfect impression of someone with a healthy routine, Yun Chu shot out of bed the moment the rooster in the courtyard crowed, like a radish bursting from the soil. Full of energy, she greeted the camera, “Good morning, everyone!”

A crew member who was already up had turned on the camera, specifically to record the guests waking up.

…But their plan failed when it came to Jian You.

It was still dark out. A crew member carefully pushed open Jian You’s door, preparing to stealthily turn on the camera, only to glance at the bed and let out a confused “huh.”

Jian You wasn’t there!

What the-? It was dark, snowy, and slippery out. Where had Jian You gone? She couldn’t have been unhappy with the production team and run off in the middle of the night, could she? The directing team was shocked too. Afraid of waking the other guests, they quickly sent someone to look for her on the quiet. Only after sending someone out did they frantically remember they could also try calling her.

They hastily dialed Jian You’s number.

She answered quickly. The wind howled on her end, making her voice sound as if it were laced with ice shards. “What is it?”

“Director Jian, where are you?” the director asked.

“Hm?” Jian You let out an “oh” and said, “Walking the dog.”

The director was floored. “This early?”

Jian You’s tone was nonchalant. “Yeah, and grabbing some breakfast while I’m at it.”

The director had a sudden realization, and a spark of gossip ignited within him. “Teacher Jian, is there a guest you’re interested in…?”

Why else would she be so attentive!

She didn’t say who she was buying it for. Isn’t that the classic “I’m doing this for everyone, but it’s secretly just for you” move?

Who was it!

Was it Yun Chu?

He eagerly awaited Jian You’s answer. Jian You had just reached the edge of the village, where a steamed bun shop was open. The village committee had opened it specifically to sell to the production crew. Steam was billowing from the bamboo steamers, and the owner was shouting, “Last batch, then we’re closing up!”

Jian You was in a hurry to buy the buns. “None of your business,” she said and hung up. She walked up to the counter. “I’ll take them all, please.”

The director, who had just been hung up on: “???”

None of his business?

He was producing this variety show precisely to meddle in these people’s love lives! How could he not get involved? But- the director wanted to cry but had no tears. It seemed he really couldn’t manage Jian You.

The assistant director happened to push the door open just then. “Director, what’s wrong with you?”

The director said, “Jian You told me not to meddle.”

The assistant director paled. “You dare try to manage the great Director Jian?”

The director: QAQ

The assistant director had no time for his whining. “Director, everyone’s waiting for you to start the meeting. Hurry!”

The meeting was a last-minute decision. After getting to know each other on the first day, the guests could invite someone they were interested in on a date on the second day. The method was to write the name of their desired partner, along with the time and place of the date, on the erasable blackboard in the living room. The invited guest could choose whether or not to go, and a third person could join the date by drawing a star next to it.

But due to the weather, it would be difficult to film several groups at once, so they had to change the plan on the fly.

While the directing team was busy with their meeting, the small courtyard where filming was taking place was quiet. Yun Chu took six eggs from the chicken coop. After burning five of them, she finally succeeded with the sixth. She covered it with a plate to keep it from getting cold, then hid in a spot the cameras couldn’t see to call Chen Jing.

Chen Jing was currently on set at a film studio with another one of her actors and had woken up especially early. She yawned as she asked in surprise, “Why are you up so early?”

Yun Chu dodged the question. “Sister Jing, I remember you’re pretty close with the director of Little Tricks for Love, right?”

“What’s up?” Chen Jing asked. “You didn’t cause trouble, did you?”

“Why would you say that? Am I the type to cause trouble?” Yun Chu said, displeased.

Chen Jing replied, “You absolutely are.”

Yun Chu: “…Let’s not talk about that.”

She quickly changed the subject. “I’ll need to see the rough cut later. Make sure they edit out what shouldn’t be in there.”

Chen Jing asked, “What did you do?”

She hadn’t done much. It was just that the process of frying an egg had been too fraught with disaster- either the oil splattered, or the eggshell fell into the pan with the egg, or the egg got burned. She nodded. “Yeah, I really didn’t do anything.”

Chen Jing was silent for a moment. “What a great persona!”

Yun Chu: “Huh?”

Chen Jing grew more and more excited. “The clumsy beauty! Who doesn’t love that? Who doesn’t talk about it? Who can resist taking a second look?”

Yun Chu: “??”

Chen Jing continued, her excitement building, “Perfect, they absolutely cannot cut this part. Your new persona is a clumsy beauty in daily life, but a talented actress in her profession!”

Yun Chu: “Hello? Sister Jing? Hello? Hello!”

Yun Chu was speechless. She hung up, walked back to the kitchen, and spoke to the nearest camera. “Please edit out that last part, thank you. Nod if you agree.”

The camera shook its head.

Yun Chu cupped it with both hands and stared into the lens. “No, you have to agree.”

“What are you doing?” A voice suddenly came from the doorway, startling Yun Chu. She quickly let go of the camera and turned around. Seeing it was Jian You, her eyes lit up. “Teacher Jian, you’re up?”

Jian You didn’t really feel like acknowledging her.

She called her “Teacher Jian” so enthusiastically, and her sparkling eyes made it seem like she really liked her, but then she didn’t even send a text at night… Stop, she wasn’t being resentful.

“Breakfast.” Jian You held up the bag in her hand. “I just went out to buy it.”

“You went out?”

“Yeah, to walk the dog.” Jian You placed the bag on the dining table and asked, “Are the others not up yet?”

Yun Chu said, “Not yet.”

“What were you-?” Jian You sat down, took a sip of soy milk, and asked, “-doing in here?”

The freshly ground soy milk was delicious. A little sugar had been added, giving it a hint of sweetness that warmed her stomach as it went down. She was just asking casually; after all, Yun Chu couldn’t cook.

“I was making breakfast!”

The next second, Yun Chu proved her wrong. She came jogging out of the kitchen holding a plate, presenting it to her like a treasure. “Teacher Jian, this is a fried egg I made for you.”

Jian You’s eyebrows rose slightly. “…It looks pretty good.”

“Right?” Yun Chu sat down across from her, resting her chin in her hands and watching her with an expectant look. “You can tell it’s delicious just by looking at it!”

Jian You lowered her eyes. “Then I’ll have a taste.”

Yun Chu: “Mhm, mhm!”

Was this an ordinary egg? No, this was a breakfast made with love, into which she had poured all her affection and adoration for Teacher Jian. This was definitely not- wait a minute! She forgot to add salt!

Jian You took the first bite.

Yun Chu was nervous. “Teacher… Jian…”

It’s over!

It must taste awful! The image I worked so hard to build of a woman who can do it all is crumbling at this very moment-

Jian You took another bite.

Yun Chu: “?”

Jian You said, “It’s delicious.”

Yun Chu: “???”